Off the Map

She continues to sort through the documents, stacking them into several organized piles as she speaks.

"Sorry for the mess," she says. "I'd been putting all of our cityhood stuff in here, and I didn't realize how out of control they'd gotten."

The unruly stack of documents is an apt representation of the ordeal Dexter has been through over the last five years in its quest to incorporate. Don't be fooled, however: if you're looking for a nasty squabble, the village of Dexter's arguments for and against cityhood will put you to sleep. Though locals have a variety of talking points both promoting and refuting the benefits of cityhood, no one seems to be cracking skulls over the issue.

Even Jim Smith, the Dexter village trustee who has consistently spoken out against the pursuit of cityhood, makes the bottom line of his argument very clear:

"Until the residents say 'we want this,' I'll speak on behalf of those who don't want it," Smith says. "But if 51 percent or more say 'we want to do this,' then I'm fine with it."